A mother's day gift, shipped in plastic baggies with bulb/roots. I'm wondering if these two are suitable to my hot summers, alkaline soil, normally little rain/limited watering, etc. It says Dicentra [formosa] 'King of Hearts' and Filipendula [rubra] 'Venusta' or Queen-of-the-Prairie. Anyone had experience with those? The other two kinds that was sent I think I can grow, a sedum and a daylilly.

I had a Dicentra for years in a large pot. It would bloom all summer. I always put it in the hoop house over winter. It just disappeared last year. It probably would have appreciated repotting. I did use potting soil and fertilizer. Not sure if you were planning to plant it in garden. It might not appreciate alkaline bed. Sounds like you hit the jackpot for Mothers Day!

@LindaTX8, I have had a Dicentra before also. It was in a pot in growing under a big stand of pines .
I had never heard of the other but it is gorgeous

Do you remember BossJim, he lives near the coast and he had several varieties

Queen of the Prairie prefers part shade and moist/wet soil in my climate; while we do have hot summers here I would expect it would not be too happy in Texas conditions. It also can be a thug if it is happy. It is a big and pretty plant.

Thanks, Debbie! I think I might give that one away. It deserves a better chance than it would have here. Maybe I'll try growing the Dicentra in a pot. Thanks for the input, Jolana and Sandi! I think DD just let the company pick out anything they thought might be used as a hummingbird or butterfly nectar plant. Lisa and her DH just returned home this weekend after their vacation trip.

Well it's the thought that counts, Linda! I'd give the Queen of the Prairie a try. Just set it in a pot you can move, in case the sun bears down on it. You may be surprised, especially since it attracts bummers and butterflies!

Edited to correct "attracts hummers," not bummers.